Sergino Dest’s future with La Liga club Barcelona remains unknown, but for now he is preparing to be a member of the squad this season.
Dest has continued his preseason preparations with Barcelona ahead of a busy summer tour in the United States. The U.S. men’s national team fullback spent last season on loan with Serie A side AC Milan, but struggled for playing time during the final five months.
Dest, 22, joined Barcelona from Dutch club Ajax in 2020 and has proceeded to registered three goals and four assists in 72 combined appearances. Although, his last appearance for the Catalan club came back in April 2022, the American defender is focused on the upcoming preseason tour in the United States.
“Yes, I see myself staying,” Dest said Friday in a press conference. “Obviously I have to prove my worth during pre-season. It’s up to me. I feel I can prove it and I will prove it. My stance is to stay here and have a really good season with Barcelona.”
“As the coach said, everyone starts from scratch every season,” Dest added. “I feel that, because of what happened to me last season, I’m starting a bit behind [so] I will try to give my best version to the team and help the team to win.”
Ronald Araujo mainly featured at right back last season while Sergi Roberto is also an option in defense. Former LA Galaxy defender Julian Araujo is with Barcelona B following his move from MLS, but might be forced to wait for a first team role.
Dest comes into Barcelona preseason off the back of winning his second Concacaf Nations League title with the USMNT in June. A former dual-national player, Dest has earned 25 caps with the USMNT, scoring two goals and registering four assists.
Barcelona opens its preseason tour on July 22 against Juventus before future matches against Arsenal, Real Madrid, and AC Milan across the United States. Xavi’s squad will then take on Tottenham in Spain on August 8 in the Joan Gamper Trophy Final before opening its La Liga schedule five days later against Getafe.
Dest’s future with the club could still change by Barcelona’s league opener, but for now he will compete to stay in Spain and continue his development.
“I don’t want to give too much information about what I talked about with the coach, but, in short, he told me: ‘OK, I’ll give you the opportunity to prove your worth’…He also told me: ‘I think you have skills but it’s up to you, you have to show me’. And I agree completely,” Dest said. “I have some skills that can be good for the team but I have to show them and be consistent.”
He is one of the most skillful players Barcelona have. I think AC Milan knew they wouldn’t be able to afford his wages etc…. and decided to freeze him out. But he never also looked comfortable at Milan.
I agree. Too bad Barcelona doesn’t know how to evaluate skills. They never had.
thought i’d seen where FFC and others were interested so to be cynical this may be a “he’s training with us until you raise your offer” situation.
The problem is they’re thin at both FB spots, Kounde doesn’t want to play RB, Balde is hurt at LB and Alonso and Roberto are old. Combine that with continuing financial restrictions and they might actually have to keep him. It seems Xavi as much as he dislikes Dest might like him more than Araujo. But yes it probably doesn’t hurt his value if they can say he’s in our depth chart.
I think it’s the depth issue and they don’t have the budget to get anyone the rate higher. However if they get a good offer they could tun around and buy someone else with that money…they jump
He’s also being paid six million euros a year. Would love to have his agent. Not a whole lot of teams have that to spend, especially for a guy who’s primarily a right back. That’s about what Pulisic looks like he’s about to make at AC Milan.
Since they’re on the hook for that one way or another, Barca might as well keep him. They tried freezing him out. It didn’t take.
I wouldn’t budge if I was Dest either.
Yeah he was the third highest salary for AC Milan but is like 15th on Barcelona.
His defending looked to be improved or more committed in his NL performances.
I agree, and I think his defense improved at the world cup.
I know a lot of people were really nervous about him starting at the WC after such a wacky year for him, but he showed up..
When I watch him play, he strikes me as a player that when he plays fearless he can really impact the game, but when he looked like he was playing NOT to make a mistake (like early in qualifying and playing both sides)
If he can mature that in his game he can compete at a high level… And he’s still young with upside
Dest almost always brings it for the national team. I think it’s the commitment to the everyday grind of club football that has been his struggle.
Sounds for now that Barcelona want to give Dest another shot. Mainly because there haven’t been many offers for him. But this could be a win win for Barcelona they get a motivated Dest to prove himself and if he plays well this season then they have the option of keeping him or moving him on next summer with the potential of more suitors.
I hope he seizes this opportunity and plays well this season for Barcelona.
The talent is there. We saw that in the first three games of the World Cup, where he looked focused and motivated.
Dest has all the incentive possible now to focus on playing his best. Looming unemployment and serious humiliation tends to focus most people.